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Shelby Foote

Shelby Foote Quotes

Historian

Shelby Foote was an American historian and author, renowned for his works on the American Civil War. Born on November 17, 1916, and passing away on June 27, 2005, Foote's writing style was marked by its vivid storytelling and rich historical detail, earning him high regard among scholars and the general public alike.

Famous Shelby Foote Quotes

“If you want to study writing, read Dickens”

Ifs Want Writing Study Dickens

Author:Shelby Foote

“North was only a direction indicated by a compass--if a man had one, that is, for otherwise there was no north or south or east or west; there was only the brooding desolation.”

Ifs Men West South East Compass Desolation Brooding

Book:The Civil War: A Narrative: Volume 2: Fredericksburg to Meridian

Source: The Civil War: A Narrative: Volume 2: Fredericksburg to Meridian

“I think that everything you do helps you to write if you're a writer. Adversity and success both contribute largely to making you what you are. If you don't experience either one of those, you're being deprived of something.”

Ifs Thinking Writing Helping Adversity Deprived

Author:Shelby Foote

“Getting close to books, and spending time by myself, I was obliged to think about things I would never have thought about if I was busy romping around with a brother and sister.”

Ifs Thinking Book Brother Busy Spending Brothers And Sisters Obliged Spending Time Sister In Law

Author:Shelby Foote

“Most of my inspiration, if that's the word, came from books themselves.”

Ifs Book Inspiration

Author:Shelby Foote

“If you want to study writing, read Dickens. That's how to study writing, or Faulkner, or D.H. Lawrence, or John Keats. They can teach you everything you need to know about writing.”

Ifs Knows Want Needs Writing Teach Study Teaching Dickens

Author:Shelby Foote

About the Author

Born: November 17, 1916
Died: June 27, 2005
Known for: Historian
Quotes: 59

Related Topics

American Civil War Civil War Thinking War Writing Ifs Shiloh Battle Of Shiloh Civil War Western Theater Want Book History People Years Civil War Eastern Theater Firsts Five Men Way Abraham Lincoln

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

ShilohRelated source material

The Civil War, Vol. 1: Fort Sumter to PerryvilleRelated source material

The Civil War, Vol. 2: Fredericksburg to MeridianRelated source material

Conversations with Shelby FooteRelated source material

Follow Me DownRelated source material

Follow Me Down: A NovelRelated source material

Jordan CountyRelated source material

Jordan County: A Landscape in NarrativeRelated source material

The Beleaguered City: The Vicksburg Campaign, December 1862-July 1863Related source material

The Civil War, Vol. 3: Red River to AppomattoxRelated source material

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